Combined key-ring and holder



S. PETER.

COMBINED KE-Y RING AND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE30, I92I- Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

INVENTOR J ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF Fl-(IE.

STEPHEN PETER; or OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

COMBINED KEY-RING AND HOLDER.

Application filedJunefiO, 1921. Serial No. 481,692.

Rings and Holders, and have described thev same in the following specification, illustratedby the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates tothat class of combined key ringsand holders therefor which are commonly attached more or less permanently to some article of wearing apparel, and which individually comprise a metallic ringon which a lock-key, or a pluralityof such keys, may" be strung, and a holder which is attachableto the ring and also to the clothing of the wearer. It isthe main object of the invention to facilitate the stringing of the keyson the key ring of a combined apparatus of the specified class; to render the keys easily removable from the ring by hand and prevent them from escaping therefrom when not so removed; to adapt the holder to be securely applied to the belt or clothing of the wearer; to lock the holder in its holding position when so applied; to adapt the ring to be conveniently detached from the holder, when a key is to be used or is to be placed on the ring or removed therefrom; and in general to increase the efficiency and usefulness of combined key rings and holders of the specified class. To accomplish these objects I incorporate in my combined key ring and key-ring holder, as parts thereof, a key ring having an open entrance interrupting the continuousness of the ring, a looped spring slidable on the ring, a locking slide encircling the spring and adapted to engage the ring, and a clamp of special construction for holding the spring detachably to the apparel of the wearer.

In said drawings, illustrating the best manner in which I have contemplated applying the principles of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined key ring and holder which is constructed in accordance with these principles. Fig. 2

is a perspective view of the assembled key ring, looped spring and locking slide which are shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are separate and dis-assembled members respectively of Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevations of the spring clamp as operatively applied to different articles of wearing apparel. I

The key ring is denoted in Figs; 1 and 2 by the numeral. 8. It is an incompletely .circular metallic loop having a narrow peripheral opening or entrance 9, where the ring is discontinuous. The spring 10 is a thin strip of metal symmetrically bentto resemble the letter U, but having its arms convergent toward the open end of the U.

It has in its opposite arms a pair of alined perforations 26 occupied by this ring, which is slidable endwise therein. The locking slide 11, shown separately in Fig. 5, resembles a steel band or sleeve; it is slidable on the arms of the spring 10 and provided with themarginal slots 12 which are adapted to accommodate'the ring 8 as shown in Fig. 1. It has also the fiat transverse in ternal tongue 13, which is adapted to enter and occupy'the ring opening 9 in the position shown in the same figure. The clamp for attaching the device to the apparel of the wearer comprises three separable parts, namely, the clamp body 14, which is shown separately in Fig. 4, the clamp pin 21, and the facing plate 22, which is shown separately in Fig. 3. The body 14 is a thin strip of metal having parts thereof bent toward each other in such a manner as to form the two spaced spring jaws 15 and 16, which are approximately parallel, and the normally closed spring hook 17 which is the free end of jaw 16. For purposes which will presently appear, the jaw 15 is perforated near its opposite ends by the holes 18 and. 19, and the jaw 16 by the pin-hole 20. The clamp pin 21 resembles a carpet-tack and is adapted to be inserted up to its head in the alined pinholes 19 and 20 in the clamp jaws. The facing plate 22 is a metallic strip having at one end the stop finger. 23 which is adapted to occupy the pinhole 18, and having at the other end the'flat hook 24. This hook is adapted to engage compressively the free end of the jaw 15 and is provided with a. terminal slot 25 which is adapted to embrace the clasp pin 21 inserted as described.

The parts 8, 10 and 11 are operatively assembled, as in Fig. 1, by first placing and holding by hand the slide 11 on the spring 10 in the position shown in Fig. 2, by then threading the ring through the holes 26 of the spring, as in Fig. 1, and by then permit ting the slide to move on the converging p a on dfiLetters Patent Patented Dec. 27 ,19211.

jaws of the spring to the position shown in the last mentioned figure, with its tongue 13 occupying the ring opening 9 and with its slots 12 occupied by the ring. The same parts may be readilymoved by hand to the relative positions shown in Fig. 2 whenever a key is to be hung on the ring or removed therefrom. The clamp may be assembled and secured to a leather belt 27, shown 'Fig. 6, by first springing the clamp body 1n a transverse position onto the belt interposed between its jaws, by then inserting the pin 21 from behind into, the pinholes 19v and 20 below the'belt, and by then adjusting the plate 22 on thej aw 15 in such a manner that the slot 25' catches the pin 27 while the stop.

finger 23 springs into and occupies the hole 18 in'the same jaw. The clamp may be'ap plied in a similar manner to the'textile waistband 28 forming part of'a pair of trousers or the like 29, as shown in Fig. 7.

spring.

specified class, comprising a key ring having an open entrance between the ends of the ring, a loop spring slidable on the ring, a slide encircling the spring and having a tongue. adapted to engage the ring, a selfcliosing' hook adapted to engage the loop spring, and means for attaching the hook to an article of Wearing apparel.

.2. In a combined key ring and holder of the specified class, a key ring having an open slot between the ends of the ring, a U-shaped spring having convergent arms perforated by the ring, and a slide movable by the spring arms to a normal position thereon and having a tongue adapted to occupy the ring slot. 7

3. In a combined key ring and holder of the specified class, a clamp body having spring jaws, a self-closing hook on one of t e jaws, a removable clamp pin passing through the jaws, and a removable facing plate adapted to engage the clamp body and hold the pin in position in the jaws.

4. A combined key ring and holder of the specified class, comprising a key ring, a

spring having terminal perforations adapted to receive'the ring, and a, clamp attachable to an article of wearing apparel. and having a self-closing loop adapted to hold the STEPHEN PETER. 

